As announced in early 2024, potential applicants and nominees to several NSERC promotions and prizes should be aware that the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) applies to those awards. To receive any of the selected prizes, potential recipients will be required to attest that they do not hold active affiliations to, and are not receiving funding or in-kind support from, named research organizations, when their research involves sensitive technology research areas.
The following awards are treated as research grants for the purposes of the STRAC policy and completed attestation forms will be required to be submitted to NSERC:
At time of nomination:
- Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships
At time of award:
- Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering
- John C. Polanyi Award
- Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering
- Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact of Natural Science and Engineering Research
- Synergy Awards for Innovation
Recipients of these awards, as well as any team members involved in related research activities, must not engage in active affiliations or receive funding or in-kind support from, named research organizations, for the duration of the prize.
UBC researchers with questions about how this policy might apply to them should contact the UBC Research Security team at research.security@ubc.ca
Helpful links:
- UBC Research Security: Understanding Affiliations (includes definitions of funding and in-kind support)
- UBC Research Security: Post-Award Considerations
- UBC Research Security: STRAC Affiliation Self-Check Questionnaire